LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The West Alabama volleyball team dropped a five-set thriller to Montevallo on Tuesday night at Pruitt Hall, losing 3-2 (25-16, 22-25, 25-14, 23-25, 15-8).
Despite a valiant effort and forcing a decisive fifth set, the Tigers fell short, extending their winless streak in Gulf South Conference play.
Montevallo came out strong in the first set, using a combination of sharp attacking and solid defense to take a 25-16 win. The Falcons' offense, led by Danielle Greene and Maggie McColley, was firing on all cylinders early, with Greene tallying multiple kills as Montevallo surged to an early lead. West Alabama fought back, with
Peyton Quesnel finding her rhythm and landing several powerful kills, but Montevallo's balanced attack and timely blocks kept the Tigers at bay. Greene was instrumental at the net, contributing both offensively and defensively, while setter Grace Harris distributed the ball effectively, keeping UWA's blockers guessing. Montevallo's efficient play and strong service game made it difficult for the Tigers to establish any consistent offense, allowing the Falcons to close out the set comfortably.
West Alabama responded in the second set, securing a 25-22 win with a combination of strong attacking and key defensive plays.
Jaida Alvin spearheaded the Tigers' offense with several well-placed kills during a crucial mid-set run that gave UWA a slight edge. Alongside Alvin, Quesnel added momentum with aggressive net play, while
Berfin Mertcan's timely assists kept Montevallo's defense off-balance. The set remained tightly contested, but
Skylar Fick's crucial block late in the frame helped the Tigers hold off a late rally from the Falcons, tying the match at one set apiece.
However, Montevallo regained momentum in the third set, dominating with a decisive 25-14 win. The Falcons controlled the pace early, racing to a quick lead as Greene and McColley continued to be the driving force behind their attack. Montevallo's defense was also impenetrable, with Libero Olivia Lee consistently picking up digs to thwart UWA's offense. The Tigers struggled to find answers against Montevallo's relentless pressure, as attack errors and missed serves began to pile up for UWA. Montevallo capitalized on these mistakes, pulling away with a commanding lead midway through the set. While Alvin and Quesnel managed to land a few kills for UWA, it wasn't enough to close the gap, and the Falcons cruised to a dominant third-set victory, putting West Alabama on the back foot heading into the fourth.
The Tigers bounced back in the fourth, edging Montevallo 25-23 in a back-and-forth battle. Montevallo took an early lead in the set, but UWA fought back from a five-point deficit midway through. Alvin once again played a pivotal role, notching critical kills to help the Tigers close the gap, while Mertcan delivered two service aces to swing the momentum in UWA's favor. As the set drew to a close, it was Fick's clutch block and
Maggie Roddam's defensive saves that helped UWA scrape by to force a deciding fifth set.
In the fifth and final set, Montevallo came out firing, quickly jumping to a 5-2 lead with key kills from McColley and a block from Greene. The Tigers struggled to keep pace as Montevallo's attack became more efficient, particularly with the Falcons hitting at a blistering .545 in the set. Despite a few timely kills from Quesnel and a service ace from Mertcan that briefly closed the gap to 10-7, Montevallo's front line proved too strong, and the Falcons surged ahead to close out the set 15-8. UWA's defense, led by Roddam's consistent digs, could not slow down the Falcons' offensive barrage, sealing the Tigers' fate.
Key contributors for West Alabama included
Peyton Quesnel, who added seven kills, and
Berfin Mertcan, who dished out 18 assists and recorded four service aces. On defense,
Maggie Roddam led the Tigers with 19 digs, but Montevallo's overall balance was difficult to overcome.
With the loss, West Alabama falls to 2-20 on the season and 0-12 in conference play, while Montevallo improves to 10-12 overall and 7-5 in the GSC. The Tigers will look to rebound in their next match which is set for Thursday against Mississippi College on the road.
